Australia is pumping 6.5 times more carbon into the atmosphere than the land can absorb.

A price on carbon introduced by the Labor government, dubbed the “carbon tax”, was more effective at motivating big emitters to act, compared to the current Direct Action plan.
Mick Tsikas/AAPSeptember 1, 2016

After barely two weeks in office, the direction the Turnbull government is likely to take on climate is beginning to emerge. Remembering that Malcolm Turnbull would not have had the numbers for a spill…

In 2010 Malcolm Turnbull threatened to cross the floor to vote for emissions trading. Polls suggest the public would back him now, even if his party won’t.
AAP Image/Alan PorrittSeptember 18, 2015

The term 'carbon tax' is a political poison in Australia, thanks to the previous carbon tax which was actually an emissions trading scheme. Yet ironically, many economists prefer a tax over an ETS anyway.

The Renewable Energy Target now includes wood waste from forestry. But a more sustainable use of Australia's native forests would be to leave them alone and earn carbon credits from the avoided emissions.

Labor says it hasn't yet decided what climate policy to take to the next election, although this week's leak has bolstered the idea that it will involve carbon pricing – a subject with a long and vexed history for the party.

In a Fairfax newspapers opinion piece, Mr Hunt said the carbon tax cost just over $1300 a tonne for the emissions reduced.
AAP Image/Mick TsikasJune 28, 2015